23
T h e O C N Y ’ s
recently established
Trust and Estates Advisory Committee has proven to be an
energizing and highly beneficial force for the Foundation and the College
. Under the leadership
of OCNY Trustee Hal Wilshinsky and Charles Cangro of Ernst and Young, the Committee has
helped to organize a series of events and programs that have raised the profile of the Foundation,
as well as the College, the UEC and the work that they both do in the community.
Last January, Mr. Michael Mariani (see profile below), managing director and deputy general
trust counsel at Fiduciary Trust Company International and a particularly active member of the new
committee, helped organize a unique event as a way of introducing dozens of new friends to the
Foundation. The event included a private tour of the New York Public Library’s “Katharine Hepburn:
Dressed for Stage and Screen” exhibit.
In2012theCommitteehostedaviewingofanartexhibitpriortoitsauctionatSotheby’s.Thisspringthe
committee will host a similar viewing of an impressionist art collection before it heads to auction at
Bonhams.
But the Trust and Estates Committee is doing even more than raising the profile of the Foundation,
the College and the UEC. Its highly established members are offering their considerable experience
to students and alumni on important issues related to financial planning, estate planning, contracts
and business agreements, among other things.
Trust and Estates Committee is Making an Impact
Endowed Scholarship Established for Dr. Harold A. Solan
T h a n k s t o t h e g e n e r o s i t y
of the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Harold A.
Solan, a new endowed scholarship has been established in his memory at the College.
With gifts exceeding $25,000—including a large gift from the Solan family — the inaugural
Dr. Harold A. Solan Memorial Scholarship will be awarded by the OCNY to a third-year
student beginning this fall.
The scholarship will focus on students who have a financial need and
demonstrate proficiency and compassion in working with children, as well as a strong desire to
practice pediatric optometry after graduation.
Dr. Solan, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 90, was “a giant in optometry,” according to
Trusts & Estates
Advisory Group
Members
Dr. Julia J. Appel
Ms. Carol Burger
Mr. Charles Cangro
Ms. Christine C. Chang
Mr. Steven M. Egna
Mr. Scott Ferretti
Mr. Kenneth L. Goody
Dr. David A. Heath
Mr. Gregory P. Hess
Ms. Nadine Lee
Mr. Joel Levin
Mr. Michael Mariani
Ms. Barbara Saltzman
(Ad Hoc)
Ms. Catherine Schmidt
Mr. Adam Sheer
(Ad Hoc)
Mr. George Spiropoulos
Mr. Alan Swerdloff
Mr. Harold Wilshinsky
Michael Mariani
Managing Director and
Deputy General Trust Counsel
Fiduciary Trust
Company International
Dr. Harold A. Solan
P r i o r t o j o i n i ng
Fiduciary Trust in
1997, Mr. Mariani was in private practice for
more than 16 years. An adjunct professor at St.
John’s University School of Law, Mr. Mariani is a
member of the New York State Bar Association,
Section on Trusts and Estates, a member of the
American Bar Association, Section on Real
Property, Probate and Trust Law, and a member
of the Surrogates’ Law Association. Mr. Mariani
is also a member of the Professional Advisors
Council of Calvary Hospital and the American
Heart Association. He co-chairs annual estate
planning conferences sponsored by these
organizations.
Mr. Mariani is a guest lecturer at the
National Graduate Trust School sponsored
by the American Bankers Association, the
New York University School of Continuing
and Professional Studies, Summer Institute in
Taxation, and at the Trust & Estate Administration
School sponsored by the New York Bankers
Association. He is also the co-author of a
three volume practice manual entitled “New
York Probate” published by Thomson Reuters.
A graduate of Wilkes College, Mr. Mariani
earned a JD from St. John’s University School
of Law and an LLM from New York University
School of Law.
(continued on the next page)
